There is much more to running a blog than writing. But writing is enough to warrant 99 tips. Follow these tips for a world-class blog.

A blogger wears many hats. He is an artist, creating images. She is a community manager, keeping readers engaged. He is a programmer, keeping the blog technically functioning. She is a marketer, promoting the blog.

But above all, a blogger is a writer. The Internet is overflowing with blogging tips. Today, we sift through the noise, mix a few metaphors and focus on the essential oils – the writing! [Read more…]

Writers can learn a lot by analyzing the successful work of others. Let’s take a look at what makes Into the Woods so successful.

Amateur and budding writers can learn a lot from successful productions, be they books or screenplays. We celebrated New Year’s Day by going to see the movie version of Into The Woods. If you have not seen either the film or a stage performance, you might like to view the trailer below before reading the rest of this article. [Read more…]

What can writers learn from cavemen? A lot, it turns out. Here are a few ways writers can improve their craft by embracing their inner caveman.

You might think we’ve evolved quite a bit since the days when our distant ancestors fretted over coordinating the carpet and the drapes in their caves and still thought fire was a pretty cool gadget. In some ways, we have evolved. Take sanitation, for instance. In other ways, like writing, we can learn a lot from cavemen. [Read more…]

If you were always wondering how to break the rules of grammar, spelling and common sense, here’s your chance. These are the top 34 rules a good writer can break, with full explanations why not to do so.

Fiction writers need to plan their plots. They need to be organized. But should they also allow their characters and the plot to develop on their own?

Most people coming to us to help them write their manuscripts are first-time writers. They often don’t know where to start, or have started and are not sure where to go next. One really good question is “How much should I plan my plot?”

A huge caveat needs to be placed on any answer to this, including my answer here. No two writers are the same. No two stories are the same. The best answer for you might not be the best answer for another author. So take the following paragraphs as good advice that might be helpful, but don’t take it as Gospel truth. [Read more…]